Vehicle



J. c. RUMSEAY June 15, 1937.

VEHICLE Filed Oct. 28, 1935 INVENTOR. John C. Pumsey,

ATTORNEY.

Patented June 15, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE The Rumsey JuniorVehicle Company, Lawrencc, Kans., a corporation of Kansas ApplicationOctober 28, 1935, Serial No. 47,104

Claims.

The present invention relates to vehicles, particularly of the classused by juveniles, and aims to provide a novel and improved vehicleconstruction of the self-propelled type.

5 A primary object of the invention therefore is to devise a vehicle ofthis class in which the motions of the body of the rider may be utilizedin cooperation with the treadle action of his feet for propelling thevehicle. In carrying out this object both the seat of the rider and atread member provided for his feet are equipped with operatingconnections to the axle of the vehicle o p in pu p es,

Incidentally, theobject of the invention is in a measure todeviseimprovements in the invention covered by Patent #2,0l8,381 issuedto me October 22, 1935, in that the rider in his operation of propellingthe vehicle simulates the movements of a jockey riding a horse or pony,and in this connection the present invention provides a figurerepresenting the head and more or less of the body of the animal,supported by a part of the propelling structure and partaking of itsmovement, thus simulating the characteristic movements of such animal asit is ridden by a jockey.

It is further sought to provide an improved construction of thischaracter which will be comparatively simple in its design and economi-30 cal to manufacture, with a minimum of complications to get out oforder.

With the foregoing general objects in view, the invention will now bedescribed with reference to the accompanying drawing showing suitableforms of embodiment of my proposed improvements, after which thosefeatures and combinations deemed to be novel and patentable will beparticularly set forth and claimed.

In-the drawing- 40 Figure 1 is a plan view of a vehicle structureconstructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional elevation, representing a section takenon the line 2-2 of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a fear elevation;

Figure 4 is a side elevation, on a smaller scale, representing amodified form of construction; and

Figure 5 is a detail view showing a slight modiflcation of thetread-drive connection.

Referring. now to the drawing in 'detail, the improved construction asillustrated as comprising a chassis frame of approximately v-formprovided with bearings at its rear end for the propelling axle 6, and aplate or platform I at its front end, where a suitable bearing 8 isprovided for a steering post ID, as clearly shown in Figures 1. and 2. Afront or steering wheel II is mounted in a fork l2 at the lower end ofsaid post In, and a pair of rear wheels I are mounted on the ends of theaxle 6, and either or both of said wheels l4 secured to the axle, thoughI find it practicable to key but one of them to the axle (as indicatedat I5-Figure 3), leaving the other one free for the better execution ofturning movements of the wheels.

To the upper face of the plate or platform 'I is secured, as by rivetsl6, one end of a supporting spring I! of appropriate size and strength,and suitably bowed at its front end and then extended upwardly andrearwardly and equipped with a seat or saddle member 18 at its rear endin position overlying the axle 6. This rear end of the spring I1 is alsoprovided with operating connections to the axle, consisting of a clip 20secured to the spring and carrying a pin 2i for pivotal connection withone of a pair of links 22 serving as a connecting rod to the. middlecrank portion 23 of the axle 6. The links 22 are formed with a series ofbolt openings 24 for the connecting bolts 25 as in my aforesaid patent.

This construction enables the links of the conneeting rod to beadjusted, as may be needed to vary the tension of the spring I1 and alsoaccommodate the height of the rider using the vehicle.

To the intermediate portion of the spring I! is also secured, as byrivets 26, an upwardly extending spring element 21 for yieldinglysupporting a steering arm 28 having a pivotal connection 29 to saidspring 21, and also connected by operating links 30 to the end of asteering, plate 32 rigidly secured to the upper end of the post ID. Theends of the arm 28 are provided with suitable hand grips '33. The springcharacter of the support 2! permits such yielding action as may berequired by the movements of the main supporting spring IT, asrepresented by the dotted lines in Figure 2. I

For cooperating with the action of the propelling structure alreadydescribed, I also provide apair of springs 34, of appropriate size andstrength, secured at their front ends by rivets 35 to the under face ofthe plate 1 and pivotally connected at their rear ends by suitable pivotpins 36 and operating links 31 to a pair of crank portions 38 on theaxle 6, provided at opposite sides of the crank 23 and extending inopposite relation to the latter. Preferably the arrangement of thesprings l1 and 34 and their connections to the axle is such that, withthe rider's weight of! the seat II, the relative position of the crankportions of the axle will be that rep- 5 resented by the full hues inFigure 2, that is, with the crank 23 forward of center, whereupon theinitial propelling action produced by the weight of the rider imposedupon the seat will be in a forwarddirection. Upon the intermediate por-1 tions of the springs 34 is mounted a tread plate ll secured to thesprings by bolts or rivets 40.

Upon'the forward portion of the supporting spring I1, I also mount afigure 4i representing the head portion of an animal, such as a horse orpony, secured by suitable brackets 42 to the spring and projectingupward through the space between the links 30 and forward over the postI! and steering wheel ll.

In Figure 4 is illustrated a modification providing for a more extendedsimulation of the animal figure by means of an elongated part 44representing its body, secured to the under side of the spring H bymeans of the brackets 42 as well as by additional clips or fastenings45, and 2 carrying at the rear end of said part 44, back of the seat It,an appendage 46 representing the animal's tail.

In Figure 5 a slight modification of the tread-drive arrangement isshown, substituting for each of the spring members 34 a set of linkconnections comprising a supporting bar or plate 50 for the tread 39,and a pivotal supporting link ii for front end of said plate 50 andconnecting with platform or plate I. This provides for a 35 possiblyfreer motion of the foot and tread member in the tread action withoutobliging the rider to overcome any spring action, and with somewhatgreater comfort to the rider since the feet are allowed to remain in amore nearly horizontal position.

Thus it will be apparent that the described construction provides avehicle enabling the rider to not only execute the necessary steeringmovements, but also provide the properpropelling action both bymovements of his body in simulation of a jockey, and also by the use ofhis feet, in

treadle fashion, to drive the cranks 38 in an obvious manner. For, theweight of the rider in depressing the spring II, as indicated by thedotted lines in Figure 2, actuates the crank 23, during whichmovementsthe rider of course relieves the tread plate of any pressure sofar as possible, while the springs 34 and cranks 38 are being raised;thereafter, he of course throws all his weight upon said tread plateleaving the seat It free of any pressure, so thatsaid weight, togetherwith the combined action of the springs, serves to actuate the cranksthrough the remainder of their revolution, back to initial position.Dining this operation the animal's figure, being supported by the springI! and partaking of its movement, will simulate the characteristicmovements of such animal, during the travel of the vehicle. Going down ahill or coasting, the propelling action may be carried out without mucheffort on the part of the rider, and it will also be obvious that he mayso shift and apply his weight as to exert whatever braking action may berequired from time to time.

It will therefore be seen that I have devised a practical and efiicientvehicle construction for embodying the various proposed features of theimprovement, and that the same is calculated to provide both a usefuland diverting medium for juvenile purposes. While I have herein shownand described what I now regard as the preferred type of constructionfor carrying out my invention, I- desire to be understood as reservingthe right to make whatever changes or modifications may be found to fallwithin the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A vehicle of the character described comprising a frame provided witha propelling wheel, a supporting spring carrying a seat and providedwith an operative driving connection to said propeliing wheel, one ormore counteracting springs carried by said frame in position fortreadaction by the rider, and means connecting said counteractingsprings for cooperative driving action to said propelling wheel.

2. A vehicle of the character described com- .prising a frame providedwith a propelling wheel,

a supporting spring carrying a seat and provided with an operativedriving connection to said propelling wheel, a pair of counteractingsprings secured to said frame and connected by a tread member forengagement by the feet of the rider, and means connecting saidcounteracting springs for cooperative driving action to said propellingwheel.

3. A vehicle of the character described comprising a frame provided witha propelling wheel, an axle provided with oppositely arranged crankportions, a supportingspring carrying a seat and provided with driveconnections to one of said crank portions, and one or more counteractingsprings provided with tread means and having cooperative driveconnections to the other crank portions of said axle.

4. A vehicle of the character described comprising a frame provided-witha propelling wheel, an axle provided with oppositely arranged crankportions, a supporting spring carrying a seat and provided with driveconnections to one of said crank portions, and a pair of counteractingsprings connected by a tread member for engagement by the feet oftherider and having cooperative drive connections to the other crankportions of said axle.

5. A vehicle of the character described comprising a frame provided withpropelling and steering wheels, a supporting spring carrying a seat andprovided with an operative drive connection to said propelling wheel,foot-operated means also provided with cooperative drive connections tosaid propelling wheel, and steering means for said steering wheelprovided with yielding supporting means carried by said supportingspring.

JOHN C. RUMSEY.

